Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in Toronto

Another Valentine’s Day, another opportunity to take a minute to celebrate the love you share with your Bae.

For most people, a Valentine’s Day celebration includes a dinner out and an excuse to put a dent in your wallet at a romantic restaurant. In Toronto, your options in this regard are almost limitless in terms of vibe and cuisine, but here are our favourites.

Alo

The “Je n’ai c’est quois” of French cuisine is on full display at this Spadina Avenue staple. The dining room feels like it was designed for dates, and the service team follows suit with recommendations for sharing. The menu changes all the time, so visit their website to see what’s on order for Valentine’s Day.

Byblos

Mediterranean is the cuisine du jour here and it’s outstanding. The wine list is diverse (it even features a Greek selection) and the dishes are made to share. Byblos is right in the heart of the entertainment district, so pair a dinner with a night at the theatre.

Campagnolo

Transport yourself and your love to the rolling hills of Tuscany at this beautiful Italian restaurant in Toronto’s trendy Dundas West neighbourhood. We highly recommend sharing the buratta with roasted grapes to kick off your meal. You might be tempted to try one of their pasta of gnocchi plates, but remember that heavy carbs can put an end to your night quickly.

The Chase

Toronto’s Financial District takes romance up a notch with this gem of a restaurant, quietly tucked away on Temperance Street — The Chase. Their specialty is a seafood platter that many patrons have claimed is an aphrodisiac. Only one way to find out.

La Banane

Toronto’s Ossington Strip is the trendiest of trendy, but don’t let the descending suburban partiers keep you away from this modern French bistro. You’ll find plenty of sharable plates and a $50 dessert that you and your honey will talk about for weeks after. We won’t tell you what it is — you have to see it for yourself.

Ascari Enoteca

Cozy, casual and delicious, this easy eating spot on Queen East is for couple who’ve been together for enough time to know that the company is what matters. Small bites and sharable plates make up most of the menu, and the trip out there from the Victoria will take you through Regent Park, an area quickly gentrifying to become one of the hottest neighbourhoods in Toronto.

Chabrol

We couldn’t do a list like this without including a spot in Yorkville, and this is the one for Valentine’s Day, if only for the exquisite dining room built with floor to ceiling windows, marble tables and romantic chandeliers. The desserts here are made to order, so save some room if you can.

7 West

It’s not expensive or traditionally romantic, but this 24-hour restaurant has most definitely played host to many a sultry encounter. The lighting is dim, the crowd is diverse and the location can’t be beat. It’s one of the more popular first date spots in Toronto.

But if you’d prefer to just stay in for a quiet V-day celebration…

Grab something from the Irish Embassy across the road, bring it back to your room and make your own… er …dessert.